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- typical overwintering gathering of Thayer’s gulls
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- photos by G.Fletcher
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- It is difficult determining immature gulls . This one appeared when other Thayer’s were predominant on the island.( PB photo)
In October of 2005, a large population of Thayer’s Gulls has settled in to overwinter at Race Rocks.These scenes are from
the South West corner, just outside the Marine Science Centre at Race Rocks.
History:
Formerly considered as a subspecies of Herring Gulls. It is sometimes regarded as a subspecies of Iceland Gulls.
Physical Appearance: 221/2″ – 25″ wide Mantle slightly darker grey Grey on the underside of the wing tips is distinctive. Yellow bill with red spot on lower mandible. Pale to brown eyes, with a purple-red ring around it. Darker pink legs.
Sound: Long mewing call: hiyah Warning call: gah-gah-gah
Nesting: Usually 2 or 3 olive-brown, heavily blotched eggs in grass nest on sea cliffs in the high arctic. They only overwinter at Race Rocks, feeding on the small herring and krill in the surrounding waters.
Habitat: They are seabirds of the arctic, coastal rocks and rocky headlands. They are usually located on the Pacific coast on North America during winters. At Race Rocks, they often number in the hundreds out on the South West corner of the larger island, as the numbers below show
Christmas Bird Counts 1997= 390, 1998=213, 1999=48, 2000=220, 2001=530, 2002=2000, 2004=450 , 2005=600, 2006= 2200
| Domain | Eukarya |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriliformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Genus | Larus |
| Species | thayeri |
| Common Name: | Thayer’s Gull |
Other Members of the Class Aves at Race Rocks.
 Return to the Race Rocks Taxonomyand Image File |
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 The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental Systems students of Lester Pearson College UWC.
It now also has contributions added by Faculty, Staff, Volunteers and Observers on the remote control webcams. |